Water-wheel



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J. N.WEEKS.

WATER WHEEL.

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J. N. WEEKS.

I WATER WHEEL. l No. 878,357. Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

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dischargeend thereof.

PATENT 'Orr-rcs.

JAMES N.. WEEKS, OF WARREN, NEW YORK.

WATER-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,357, dated January 10, 1888,

Application ledjpril 19, 1887. Serial No.5l35,40l. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES N. WEEKS, .a citizen of the United States, residing at Warren, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-VVheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in Water-wheels; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a water-wheel em bodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on the line a: x of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a top Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the wheel only, enlarged. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of. the paddles.

A represents Van inclosing case or trough, which is adapted to be submerged longitudinally in a running stream, and is open at its front and rear ends. The4 upper side of the case is provided with a pair of hinged doors, B, which are adapted to'fold together and to meet at the center of the case. Between the opposing meeting edges of these doors is formed a vertical central opening, C. Vertical frames D project from the upper side of the case, near the front and rear ends thereof, and the said vertical frames are connected by a longitudinalbeam, E.

F represents a curved offset, arranged in one side of the case ata suitable distance from the rear edge thereof, the function of the said offset bei-ng. to narrow the dischargechannel G of the case. A gate, H, is hinged in one side of the case, and is adapted to close the The said gate is provided with a verticallyfprojecting pivotal bar, I, having a lever, K,at its upper end, by means of which the gate may be opened or closed.

L represents the water-wheel proper, the construction'of which is as follows:

M represents a pair of circular top and hottoIn plates, which are provided on their opposing sides with radial tongues or ilanges N. The central portions of the circular plates are connected together by a hub or sleeve, O.

sides with projecting studs It, that are `journaled in vertical openings made in the circular plates. These radial series of blades or paddles are adapted to close against each other and against the radial tongues or anges N. f

The free edges of the said blades or paddles are adapted to swing outward against the vertical stops or studs R', with which the bottom plate is provided. The radial series of 65 blades Orpaddles are arranged on the saine sides of all of the radial tongues or anges, and thereby the said paddles are free to swing in the same direction away from the radial tongues or flanges, and are adapted to close against the same. The outer edges of the circular plates are connected together by means of vertical plates S.

T represents a vertical shaft, which has its lower end stepped in a socket in the bot-tom of the inclosing-casc at the center thereof. This shaft extends through and is keyed to the central hub of the water-wheel, and the upper end of the said shaft is journaled in a vertical central opening in the beam E.

Y The operation of myinvention is as follows: The water, running in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 2, causes the radial series of paddles or blades of one side of the water-wheel to close against the tongues or flanges N, and causes the blades or paddles on the opposite side of the water-wheel to swing open. By thisv means the water is permitted to flow freely through one side of the waterwheel; but its passage is obstructed by the radial paddleson the opposite side of the wheel, and thereby the latter is rot-ated by the force of the water, as will be readily seen. The

curved'offset in the inclosing-case of the waterwheel, by reducing the size of the escape-chan nel of the'v water-casing, causes the water to How more swiftly through the same and to operate upon the wheel with increased force. By closing the gate the wheel is caused to stop. The hinged doors B on the upper side of the case enable the `wheel to be removed therefrom when necessary to effect repairs.

A water-wheel thus constructed is cheap and simple, and is adapted to be operated by ICO running streams, thus obviating the necessity of building dams, and thereby effecting a great economy of time, labor, and money.

It will be obvious that by arranging the wheel horizontal the blades will be free to act laterally on their pivots, and upon clearing the discharge-outlet will lie parallel with the opposing portion ofthe stream, so as to exert the least possible resistance.

Having thus described my invention, I elaim- The improved Water-wheel herein described, comprising the case having inlet and outlet openings, the frames D, mounted on the case, the beam E, secured upon said frames, the wheel arranged in the case and having its shaft extended up to and journaled in the beam E, the doors B O, hinged to the ease below the said beam, the pivot-rod I, mounted on the side of one of the frames D and extending into the case, a lever, K, on the upper end of said rod, and the gate H, mounted on the lower portion thereof and operating in the outletopening of the ease, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as iny own I have hereto atlixcd my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES N. WEEKS.

Witnesses:

WALTER A. AoKnRMAN, ALLEN W. Soumis. 

